Raising ₦100 Billion to Fund Africa’s Digital Economy Through Verified Data and Local Infrastructure with Samuel Efosa-Austin

Episode 193 with Samuel Efosa-Austin, founder of ECO Africa, Tech for Good Africa, and the ECO Fund. Samuel is leading a bold mission to raise ₦100 billion in local currency to finance Africa’s data infrastructure, proving that the continent can build and fund its own digital future.

Samuel shares how verified data, technology, and local capital can drive inclusive growth across Africa. Through ECO Africa’s integrated ecosystem, he is redefining economic measurement beyond GDP, investing in green data centres, AI-powered civic tools, and sustainability-driven platforms that connect communities, governments, and investors.

He explains why verified data should be viewed as critical infrastructure, how to make data systems bankable for local investors, and what it will take to build trust and ownership within Africa’s digital economy. Samuel also discusses how blended finance models can balance social impact and financial returns while unlocking a new asset class for African investors.

What We Discuss With Samuel

• Samuel’s journey from civic technology innovator to founder of ECO Africa and the ECO Fund.
• Why Africa must treat verified data as infrastructure, not a technology product.
• Mobilising ₦100 billion in local currency to fund Africa’s digital future.
• Blending catalytic impact capital with commercial investment to build resilient data systems.
• Training Africa’s next generation of technology leaders through the African Technology Leadership Academy.
• Reimagining Africa’s economic future through data ownership, trust and local value creation.

Verto Corner
In this week’s Verto Corner, Megan Doherty, Director of Operations at Verto, explains why reducing payment friction is central to customer success and long term retention. 

She discusses how issues such as failed transactions, payout delays and foreign exchange errors do not just create costs but also damage trust. Megan shares how strong operational processes and the right technology can prevent these problems, ensuring reliability and transparency across every cross border payment. 

She also gives examples of how solving payment challenges has helped clients strengthen loyalty with their own customers.

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Did you miss my previous episode where I discus Why Africa Holds the Key to Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Supply Chains? Make sure to check it out!

Connect with Terser:
LinkedIn – Terser Adamu
Instagram – unlockingafrica
Twitter (X) – @TerserAdamu

Connect with Samuel:
LinkedIn – Samuel Efosa-Austin
Twitter – @ECOevangelists

Discover how Verto’s solutions can help you accept payments, manage expenses, and scale with ease here